First Night Saratoga security details

Monday’s theme for First Night Saratoga is “Explore the Night,” but organizers feared revelers would explore other New Year’s Eve parties when they heard fireworks were scratched from the program:

Organizers of First Night Saratoga have changed some security details ahead of New Year’s Eve, but police say the patchwork of protection will keep the public safe.

Several private citizens last week contributed up to $10,000 to rescue the annual fireworks display that concludes First Night activities at midnight each New Year’s Eve in Congress Park.

The donations for permits, security guards and a barrier around the park were necessary because Public Safety Commissioner Chris Mathiesen said the city police department no longer had the manpower to cover both the park and downtown bar area. Members of Saratoga Arts, the planners of First Night Saratoga, pulled the plug on the fireworks and instead offered a laser show in the city center.

The public recoiled. Sonny Bonacio, the owner of Bonacio Construction, jump-started the fireworks by offering to build necessary fencing around the park perimeter so revelers don’t enter. He also telephoned members of the business community, who together ponied up $8,000 to $10,000 to address security concerns.“We’re just doing the right thing and getting it done,” Bonacio said Thursday. He directed inquiries about how the donations would be spent to Saratoga Arts Executive Director Joel Reed, who could not be reached for comment.

But others said the donations meant Saratoga Arts could provide needed security guards for the interior of the park to prevent the public from getting too close to where fireworks are ignited. Also, city police called in crossing guards that typically work during summers at Saratoga Race Course to direct pedestrians on New Year’s Eve. Having those bases covered freed police officers to concentrate on the bar areas and locations where problems are typically reported, police said Thursday.

“I’m confident we’re at the staffing levels needed if there’s any problems,” said Paul Veitch, president of the Saratoga Springs Police Benevolent Association, who is working as a patrol supervisor from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. The PBA had nothing to do with staffing decisions for New Year’s Eve, and would have liked to have a say in them, he said.

The city’s working police force consists of 54 officers and administrators. That does not include four injured officers and two who are budgeted to be hired next month. Police will not say how many officers are working New Year’s Eve, but Veitch said it was about the same number as prior years.

In a cost-saving measure in 2010, the city started asking non-profit groups such as Saratoga Arts to help pay for increased police staffing at events held in the city. In the hours following last New Year’s Eve, a man was stabbed at the Metro near Caroline Street, according to police.

The New Year’s Eve fireworks display is “crucially important” to the community and should continue to be held, said Jeff Clark, president of the Downtown Business Association. Better communication would help prevent situations from reaching a critical point, he said.

“I don’t want to be in the business of pointing fingers, but I do think we could have closer communications between the city departments and business and tourism groups for all the festivities the city puts on,” Clark said.